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COLUMBUS – Today, Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) announced that he will introduce legislation to prohibit prosecutors who represent counties with 400,000 or more residents from retaining private law practices while they serve as the county prosecutor. The legislation will not prohibit county prosecutors from lecturing or teaching at academic institutions or any local or state bar association forums.

“A county prosecutor interacts with judges and attorneys on a daily basis in his or her official capacity as prosecutor. Engaging in a separate law practice invites conflicts of interest,” said Senator Thomas. “Prosecutors in large counties also take on very demanding caseloads. If the prosecutor has a private practice, there will always be concern that the taxpayers’ interests are not a priority. Ohioans expect and deserve their county prosecutor to be engaged and in the office on a daily basis.”

There are currently six Ohio counties with populations large enough to fall under the requirements in this bill. These counties are Cuyahoga, Franklin, Summit, Montgomery, Lucas, and Hamilton. Of those six counties, only Hamilton has a part-time prosecutor. Hamilton is also the only county of the largest six with a prosecutor who retains a private legal practice.

Columbus—Today, State Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) testified before members of the State and Local Government Committee on Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 to urge Commissioner Robert Manfred to reinstate Pete Rose to Major League Baseball. The resolution also encourages the Baseball Writers' Association to consider Pete Rose for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

State Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) appeared on MSNBC's "Sports Matters" hosted by Rob Simmelkjaer to discuss his Senate Resolution to reintstate Pete Rose to Major League Baseball and make him eligible to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Columbus---Today, State Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 to urge MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred to reinstate Pete Rose to Major League Baseball. The resolution also encourages the Baseball Writers' Association to consider Pete Rose for induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.